Purposeful Annotations

Methods of Development (What is the author doing?)

1.    Narration/Description: telling a story (plot elements)/ appealing to the senses

2.    Problem/Solution: identifying something wrong and offering potential a remedy

3.    Process analysis: explaining how something is done

4.    Compare and Contrast: Observing similarities and differences

5.    Division and classification: separating things into categories

6.    Cause and Effect: observing instigating moments and their outcomes (consequences)

7.    Definition: Establishing a common meaning

8.    Exemplification: providing evidence

Rules for Reading

1.    While Reading

a.     Divide the reading into relatable sections. There is no correct answer as to how many sections the text actually has, but rather, you need to justify why you broke the reading into the sections that you do.

b.     Identify and mark discourse markers that suggest any shifts the speaker makes. These may be shifts in chronology, shifts in tense, shifts in point of view, shifts in examples, shifts with words that suggest contrast, etc.

c.    In each section try to label what the speaker is doing. Focus on identifying 1-2 things s/he is doing with the language ( look at the powerful verb sheet).

Consider using this template:

In this section (Insert speaker’s last name) (powerful verb(s) from the verb list) (summarize the language in that particular section)

e.g. In this section, Bush graphically recounts the vicious attacks which happened earlier that day.

2.    After Reading

a.     Identify the author’s tone. Consider the holistic tone of the piece, but also recognize that if the subject changes within the piece, you will also want to identify the tone shift(s) associated with such.

b.     Identify the holistic purpose: what the audience is supposed to UNDERSTAND (central idea / theme) after experiencing the whole piece.

c.     Identify the purpose of your individual sections: that is, ask yourself this question: “If I look at only this section, what parts of the holistic purpose does this relate to?”

e.g.

Holistic Purpose:

Bush delivers his post-9/11 speech in order to unite the divided American public in their suffering and desire for justice, ultimately moving the U.S. public to have hope as they prepare for war.

Sectioned Purpose:

In this section, Bush initially repeats communal pronouns and pairs them with antagonistic images in order to unite the American public in their current suffering.

Sectioned Purpose:

“Bush surreptitiously references the current state of the armed forces in order to suggest the need for potentially violent retaliation.”